Thames Watermen Act 1698

VI. Persons owning, &c. Lighters or Flat Boats, registering themselves on or before 29th Sept. next, deemed Lightermen within this Act; and such Persons (Exception) and no other, may use Lighters;

Penalty.

And be it further enacted and declared by the Authority aforesaid That all and every Person or Persons now owning haveing useing keeping or working any Lighter or Flatt Boats commonly used for the lading and unlading Goods and Merchandizes to or from any Ship or Ships or other Vessell or Vessells who shall register the Names of themselves and their Servants with their respective Places of Aboad in the Booke or Books of the said Company kept for that Purpose on or before the Nine and twentieth Day of September next shall be deemed and taken to be Lightermen and they are hereby declared to be Lightermen within the Intent and Meaneing of this present Act And it shall and may be lawfull to and for all and every such Person and Persons soe registred and no other Person or Persons but such (Free Watermen who are not at present Lightermen) that shall be registred as Lightermen at any time or times hereafter and such Person and Persons who shall have beene or are lawfully retained and served his Apprenticeship with a Lightermen excepted to use keep and worke or be imployed in the working of or in any Lighter or Lighters or other great Craft upon paine that every Person or Persons doing the contrary shall from time to time for every such Offence forfeite and loose the Summ of Five Pounds for every Weeke that he or they shall have use and worke or worke in any Lighter or other large Craft Any thing herein contained to the contrary in any wise notwithstanding